Congratulations on your engagement! This is a really exciting time in your life. It’s also probably going to be a bit stressful.
During this next year, I want to walk through this process with you. I’ll give you a 12 Month Guide to planning your wedding and explain things along the way. You can start from the beginning here (click). Come back to this blog each week for the next installment.
Week 19 – Save the Dates
Hope you’re all caught up with the free Wedding Vendor Checklist and ready to go! This week we’ll look at what goes into save-the-dates and why they’re a good idea!
If you have a long engagement, these are a great way to help people plan ahead for the big day without having to tell guests all the details (thus allowing you to finish making decisions). At this point you have the basics of date and location which is what you’ll place on the cards.
While you can use an old photo, this is a great time to utilize your wedding photographer for an engagement shoot to get a unique photo for the save-the-date cards. Why? Several reasons. 1-It’s hard to smile for long periods of time and an engagement shoot will help prepare you. 2-It’s pretty awkward having a stranger follow you around all day, so you may as well get to know them a little better beforehand. 3-It’s a wonderful time to capture the romantic looks you give each other (everybody knows you do it and it’s adorable). 4-It will set you at ease with your photographer so you’ll understand angles, posing and directions. 5-It will give the photographer time to get to know you, your likes and dislikes and your best angles. 6-Many photographers will custom design and order the cards for you.
Who do you send the save-the-dates to? Remember that guest list I said you needed to have early in the process? This is why. It can take a while to compile all of the addresses. If you have them already, way to go! If you don’t, best hop to it. 🙂
So when do you need to send them out? Ideally, at around the six month mark. That gives enough time for the to plan without everyone thinking it’s the invitation. If you are planning a destination wedding, it’ll be best to send the save-the-dates eight months in advance so people can make travel plans.
This week, ask your photographer about an engagement shoot and whether or not they will design save-the-dates. Where will you have your engagement session?
Next week we’ll talk about how destination weddings can be a little different to plan.
Katelyn is a certified wedding planner. She is available for consultations.
She will even meet with you on Skype to help you work through part of your wedding planning.
Click here for more information.